November 2004 Edition
Feature Spotlight: Job Charges with SQL SDK
Q&A with Technical Support: Getting Current User Information
Smart Tip of the Month: Data Entry Wizard
Third Party Software: SyBrowser v6.1 SQL Querying Tools
Support Bookshelf: JavaScript Teach-nology
Feature Spotlight
Job Charges with SQL SDK
The most recent version of the SQL SDK, an add-on product to Virtual Ticket and Job Manager, allows administrators to import job charges into the Job Manager database. This new feature provides a standardized method for adding job charges that may be recorded outside of the Job Manager application. For example, traveling employees might record their charges to an Excel spreadsheet and then later import the information into the database. An example illustrating the use of adding Job Charges through the SQL SDK can be found in the MetaCommunications Support Knowledge Base article 16179.
For more information, visit:
http://www.meta-comm.com/support/knowledge_base/article.asp?id=16179
Q&A with Technical Support
What functions can be used to display information about the currently logged in user?
Displaying the name of the logged in user has a variety of uses. For example, show the name of the user that created a record, record the name of who issued their approval for a specific task, or note the user who completed an activity. The LoggedInUser() MetaScript function contains five properties which can be used to display current user information including: FirstName, LastName, Name (Login Name), ID (Id Number), and EmployeeNumber (Job Manager Employee Number). These properties will allow information about the users interacting with Virtual Ticket forms to be captured and displayed. Examples illustrating different methods of implementing the LoggedInUser function are available in the MetaCommunications Support Knowledge Base article 16180.
For more information, visit:
http://www.meta-comm.com/support/knowledge_base/article.asp?id=16180
Smart Tip of the Month
Data Entry Wizard
In many working environments, several forms must be filled out at the beginning of the job process. For example, the prepress and printing departments have separate Virtual Ticket forms which dictate the work these departments will perform on the job. With the release of Virtual Ticket 6.0, the OpenURI MetaScript functionality has been expanded to allow switching forms in the current browser. This allows virtual data entry wizards to be created to promote quick form switching and faster data entry. An example illustrating this functionality is available in the MetaCommunications Support Knowledge Base article 16181.
For more information visit:
http://www.meta-comm.com/support/knowledge_base/article.asp?id=16181
Third Party Software
SyBrowser 6.1
MacOS X users have another option for querying SQL database information. MacSOS offers an SQL Querying tool for Mac OS X called SyBrowser 6.1. SyBrowser is made to browse SQL tables in various types of databases including Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, and others. This software can be used to help create and debug complex SQL queries which can be later copied into Job Manager or Virtual Ticket. Licenses can be purchased on the MacSOS web site.
For more information, visit:
http://www.macsos.com.au/shareware/SyBrowser.html
Support Bookshelf
JavaScript Teach-nology
The JavaScript resource page located on teachnology.com contains over 25 links to other JavaScript instructional resources. A majority of the links go to sites which are continually updated with new tutorials, articles, tools and JavaScript tips.
For more information, visit:
http://teachers.teach-nology.com/web_tools/web_site/javascript/
New MetaCommunications Knowledge Base Articles this month:
16044 - Mapping a volume for use with Virtual Ticket WebServer
http://www.meta-comm.com/support/knowledge_base/article.asp?id=16044
16179 - Using the sp_sql_add_job_charge SQL SDK procedure
http://www.meta-comm.com/support/knowledge_base/article.asp?id=16179
16180 - Using the different properties of the LoggedInUser() MetaScript function
http://www.meta-comm.com/support/knowledge_base/article.asp?id=16180
16181 - Creating a data entry wizard with OpenURI
http://www.meta-comm.com/support/knowledge_base/article.asp?id=16181
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